Construction of and method of sinking piles.



E. BTGNELL.

CONSTRUCTION 0F AND METHOD 0F SINKTNG PILES. APPLICATION F|LED`1AN.3|.|916.

1,241,813.- A Iz'lte'utod Out. '3,1917'.

BIGNELL, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO CONCRETE PID11iIGi COM-vPAN'Y, 0F SEWARD, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA.

CONSTRUCTION F AND METHOD OF SINKING PILES.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Continuation of application No. 773,882, led June 16, 1913.Thisap'pli-cation tiled January 31, 1916.

Serial No. 75,318.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD yBIGNELI., a

l citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in theV county ofLancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and yusefulImprovements in Construction of and Methods of Sinking Piles; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had totheaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myy invention relates to the-construction of and method of sinkingpiling, sheet piling, caissons, or any structure which is adapted to beentirely or partially sunk in the earth'to serve as a foundation for asuperstructure, 'or obstruction, such as a dike, breakwater or the like,and which will be hereinafter referred to merely as piling,

' although I do not wish to be understood as limiting the use of themethodA to the specific structure ordinarily understood by that term,the present application being acontinuation of my application filed June16, 1913, Serial No. 773,882.

More particularly the invention relates to the construction of andmethod of sinking piles which have previously been formed or molded froma plastic material, such as cement or concrete, and are carried to thework and lowered to position partially by their own weight and partiallyby artificial displacement on the earth in advance thereof.

I have discovered that in placing piles of this construction thegreatest resistance is due to adhesion of the earth against the -sidesof the piles, the earth through which the pile is usually driven beingin al semifluid state so that pressure due to its own weight is exertedlaterally against the sides of the pile, and holds same against originalplacement, or against displacement or removal afterit has been seated.

I have also discovered that a head of water forced through the lower endof the pile will displace earth in advance of the pile, so that thelatter can sink to place by its own weight, but that water dischargedonly at the bottom of the pile is diffused into the surrounding earth sothat while an opening is made in advance of the pile into which the'latter may sink, the semi-fluid earth is immediately forced back againstthe sides of the piling, and the objectionable adhesion again retardsthe travel.

I have further -discovered that by providing the p'ile with nozzles,which are fed from an interior source and directed upwardly at the sidesof the pile, at such close intervals that jets of water discharged fromthey nozzle will exert a siphonic jet action tendin been 'isplacedinadvance of the piling, force lsame upwardly around and along the sidesof the pilin so that a film is formed to lift the loose earth afterl ithas thereabout that Pw1ll hold back the earth and maintain a uniformliqueication throughout the depth of the piling and will prevent ,the

objectionable adhesion heretofore mentioned and prevent channeling, thejets and film also serving as an elevator for carrying the displacedmaterial to the surface and forming a pocket inv advance of and aboutthe piling which will allow the latter to sink quickly as long as thewater jets are active.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred form ofpiling and mechanical structure for carrying out my invention, and willrefer thereto for clear-- ness of description. In the drawin s F1gure I,1s a corner elevatlon o a pllmg Iadapted for use in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. II, is a cross-section of same, illustratingI the side jets.

Fig. III, is a vertical section of the upper portion of the piling,showing connections for yvater supply pipes.

Fig. IV, is a longitudinal section of the from the upper end to form atip 4.

Mounted on the tipji, preferably by means within the lower nose 2 andprojects slightly I of a screw threadedcollar 5, is a connection 6having an intake collar 7, provided.

- with a ange to which the ange 9 of a tip f y10 is attached, preferablyby the bolts 11,

the tip 10 being in turn connected with a y"hose 12 which mayextend to asource of wa-` ter Supply-y @The lower endof the pipe 3 carries a re-`duction cap 13, and attached to said cap is va-ijiowzzle 14 whichprojects through the end j. 'ofthe piling and has an opening 15 forprovducing a strong jet in advance of the piling when the latter isbeingsunlr, andan annular, lateral opening 16 for directing a` head ofwater laterally and upwardly around the; bottom ofthe pile, to hold theloosened earth back and direct it upwardly,

tothe Siphon jets.

Extending through the pipe 3 is a smaller pipe 17, thelower end of whichis threadedinto the reduction cap 13, and the upper end extended througha stuiiing box 18, onv the top of connection 6, and connected withasupply 'pipe 19,-A which, in-turn,.is fed through a hose 20 that alsoextends to a source of water supply, the hose` 12 and 20 being providedwith suitable controlling mechanism or valves (not shown).

Opening from the outer pipe .3, and extending through the body of thepiling, are' jet members 21, having upturned ends 22A lying close alongthe outer faces of the pilving, so that when water is forcedtherethrough it will be directed upwardly in a plurality of jets, whichare arranged at such close intervals relative to the excavating jet andto' each other that material displaced by the excavating jet is steppedupwardly along the sides ofthe pile tothe surface of the vearth throughwhich the pile is being` sunk. The members 21 are preferably largertoward the bottom of the piles than near the top', as greater force isrequired at the bottom to lift the greater head of fluid and earth,although the invention need not be limited to the use of jet members oflgradu- The water, being discharged through-the` small pipe in a strongjet, displaces the earth about the nose of the piling, so that thelatter may sink to place of its own weight and water passing through thelarge pipe imn pacts against the dead end cap'13, lending the force ofthe hydraulic head to the sinking process, and, at the same time, beingforced laterally through. the jet members 21 to be discharged upwardlyalong the sides 'of the piling. "lhe upturned jets displace materialalong the sides of the piling and' force saidl material upwardly towardthe surface, the displacement adjacent the mouth of the jet forminga'vacuum, vinto which the earth displaced in advance of the piling is.drawn'by siphonic action and forcedupwardly by the action of the sidenozzles.

By placing the jets at properdistances apart, the displaced material isstepped upwardly fromone jet member to the other, until it reaches thesurface, the upward travel ofthe water, with the material in sc l lutionor suspension, forminga protective film or sheet about the piling whichserves to keep back the semi-fluid earth and prevent the disadvantageousadhesion.

lt is apparent from the foregoing that my method utilizes two naturalforces in the sinking of the piling; first, the weight of the pileitself, which will naturally cause the pile'to descend when the earth isdisplaced therebeneath; and, secondfthe hydraulic head through the smallpipe against the noz: zle 16, and through thelarge pipe against thereduction cap and the variousjet members. These forces are assisted bythe protective film that not only keeps back the earth but also servesto carry the displaced earth in solution or suspension to the surface.

l claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. The method of sinking a structure consisting of excavating in advanceof the struc ture and conducting displaced material up- Having thusdescribed my invention, what ice wardly to the surface of the earth intowhich the structure is sunk by'stepped jets of water directed upwardlyalong the surface of the structure.

2. The method of sinking a structure consisting of excavating in advanceof the structure by means of water under substantial pressure, andconducting displaced material upwardly to the surface of the earth intowhich the structure is sunk by stepped jets of water directed upwardlyalong the surface ofthe structure.

3. The method of sinking a structure consisting of excavating in advanceof the structure and conducting displaced material upwardly tothesurface of the earth into which the structure is sunk by stepped jets ofwater directed upwardly along the surface of the structure atsufficiently close intervals to maintain constant acceleration of thewater and material from the nose of the 'pile to the surface oftheearth.

t. 'The method of sinking a structure which consists in excavating inadvance 'of the structure by jetting and in then rapidly conof thestructure displaced material upwardly to the surface1 ducting byrelaying the displaced material by a 4series of jets of Watercircumferentially disposed about and upwardly directed s under highpressure along the surface of the of the earth into which the structuresunk by step jets oi' water circumferentially disposed and directedupwardly underI high pressure along the surface of the structure and atsutiiciently close intervals to maintain a constant acceleration ormovement of the water and material from the lower end of the structureto the surface of the earth.

6. The method of sinking an elongated structure consisting of directingWater in advance of the structure under sufficient pressure to loosenthe material, directing a jet of water under sulicient pressure upwardlyalong the side of the structure to elevate the loosened material acertain distance and directing another jet of water under suiii cientpressure upwardly ata point where the loosened material carried bysaidfirst jet will be delivered to it and carried upwardly farther.

7. The method of sinking an elongated.

structure consisting of directing water in advance of the structureunder suiicient pressure to displace material, directing jets of waterupwardly at points about the structure and along the sides thereof toelevate the displaced material.l and directing other jets of waterupwardly at points about the of sinking a structure construeture towhich the displaced material is elevated by lower jets to furtherelevate the material, whereby the material is eventually delivered to4the surface of the earth into which the structure is sunk. l

8. The method of sinking a structure oonsisting of'directing Water underhigh pressure in advance of the structure to exeavate therefor anddirecting jets of water under relatively low pressure upwardly along theouter surface of the structure at sutiiciently close intervals toldispose of the material .from the lower end of the structure to thesurface of the earth into which the structure is sunk.

The method of sinking a structure consisting et discharging a jet ofWaterin advance thereof to excavate therefor, discharging jets of waterof gradually reduced volumcupwardly along the sides of the structure atsutliciently close intervals to main# tain a' constant acceleration ormovement 0f the water and material from the nose of the structure to thesurface of the earth.

10. A structure comprisingan elongated body member` means for directingWater under sufiieient pressure in advance of the vbody member to loosenthe material, and

means for directingjets of water under suffcient pressure upwardly at,intervals along the sides of the structure to relay the loosenedmaterial upwardly, said jets being so spaced and directed that theloosened material carried by one jet will be delivered to thc jet aboveit.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

.EDlVARD BIGNELL.

